The President of Hajj and Umrah Operators HUTUOA denied the allegations that NAHCON deliberately impose its preferred providers on the Private Hajj Operators.
Alh Muhammed Awwal Suleiman, who is also the Chairman/CEO of Grandtrack Tour Ltd said the clarification becomes important due to the critical roles HUTUA play in facilitating the payment and booking of spaces for private tour operators.
“NAHCON approved two separate Hajj Service Providers for Private Hajj Companies. Ithraa Al Ajjoud and Rawaf Mina. Initially, Rawaf Mina was to provide VIP services for Private Hajj pilgrims while Ithraa Al Joud will also provide both VIP and normal tent D services.
Alh Awwal said “It was some Hajj Companies under AHUON that actually chose Ithraa Al Joud and NAHCON signed a contract with them on behalf of AHUON. We on our side approach Rawaf Mina and we review their hajj packages with our members. We decided to patronize them after seeing that they have a cheaper and more reliable package. It is after then that other companies decide to pick Rawaf Mina while others go for Ithraa Al Joud.
Truly I don’t know how NAHCON force its preferred service provider on anyone.
Speaking to HAJJ REPORTERS, The CEO of the grandtrack tour said that rather, the private Hajj companies, they should be grateful to NAHCON for making payment for booking of packages for the Private Tour Operators at a period close to the deadline.
NAHCON takes the pain of booking 14,200 spaces for Private Hajj Operators with a promise that the Tour Operators will refund the money when they sell their hajj packages to their intending pilgrims. As at today, I don’t think all the tour operators have been able to refund 60 percent of the payment back to NAHCON.
Alhaji Suleiman expresses worry that the withdrawal of some companies from the 2025 Hajj will create unhealthy relations between NAHCON and other Hajj Companies.
“Who will refund NACHON now, how can we withdraw from the exercise after someone has made payment for packages on our behalf? he added
